Baric Explosives Plant
Prva Iskra, Serbia

Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, the JNA's chemical weapons program produced the numerous chemical warfare agents to include sarin, sulfur mustard, the psycho chemical incapacitant BZ and CS. They also weaponized these agents in plants in Lucani, Baric and in Krusevic. The first project of chemical weapons production in the former Yugoslavia was the nerve gas sarin, under the program designation HM-502. After the initial research in Mostar, production started at "Prva Iskra" factory in Baric, in Serbia. The second project, HM-501, was the production of mustard gas. Both agents were filled in 152mm and 155mm howitzer and artillery shells between 1961 and 1969. Eventually production improvments at the "Prva Iskra" factory supported production of 200 kilograms mustard gas and sarin a day.

The town of Ohrenovac, 20 km southwest from Belgrade, is near the chemical complex located in the neighbourhood of Baric. Baric is situated on the Sava river, which meets the Danube in Belgrade. The Baric complex produces hydrochloric acid for civilian use as well as the toxic hydrofluoric acid, used as a component for different household detergents.

During Operation ALLIED FORCE strategic targeting included attacks on the Baric explosives plant on the night of 18-19 April. On 25 April 1999 NATO briefers presented gun-camera imagery of attacks on the explosive production facility at Baric. The imagery depicted fences that were probably electrical power fences -- these were particularly visible in the infrared post-strike imagery because they emit heat.

CORONA Imagery

Imagery used by Joint Staff Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy Maj. Gen. Charles F. Wald, U.S. Air Force, during a press briefing on NATO Operation Allied Force in the Pentagon on May 3, 1999. DoD photo. (Released)